Straw-gutter



L. A. HARPER.

Straw Cutter.

Patented Aug. 15, 1848.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lwgnphnr. Washington, D. C.

sans

L. A. HARPER, OF RUSSELLSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

STRAW-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. No. 5,717, dated August 15, 1848.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LownnNoE A. HARPER, ofRussellsville, in the county of Logan and State of Kentucky. haveinvented a new and Improved Straw Cutter o-r chopper, and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in placing the wheel-work in such amanner as to act immediately on the back of the knife or cutter by acrank and pitman with great power and quick motion, the straw is movedforward under the knife by an eccentric wheel and camyoke, in the momentwhen the knife is fully above the strawthe arrangements are further so,that any scythe may be attached and used as a cutter or knife.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

At the annexed drawing is Figure 1, a front View; Fig. 2, a View fromthe right side; Fig. 3, a view from below showing a part of the machine.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is (A) the main bottom sill, 3 by 12 inches thick, 395feet long: (B, B) the two front posts 2 12 inches and 5 feet long,framed in the bottom sills 13 inches apart: (C) the cap, 2gby 15 inches,

and 21 inches long framed on the top of the front posts and projectingover the flywheel: (D) a cross piece 2.1; by 3 inches and 2 feet longlapped infront of the main posts 15 inches above the main sill (A) thebearing of the knife is supported at one end of this piece, it alsoforms the bottom of the front of the cutting box: (E E) two headblocks2g inches square 22 inches long framed through the main posts (B B) tosupport the wheel-work, fastened by long tenons and keys on the`outside. There is also a small piece confined between the main post-s infront for the purpose of preventing the knife (I) from raising the strawwhen in the act of cutting; a common steel plate (ct, a,) is confined infront of the box: (F) the main cogwheel, S inches diameter (the power isapplied to the crank (g) which gears into a pinion (2)) 4 inchesdiameter on the main shaft ((Z) of the crank (f) and flywheel (W), thecrank (f) being 3.15 inches long: (H) the pitman 18 inches long, of

its extremity opposite of the knife is movable by a slide box (o) at theblock (K K) screwed to the box (U) at the back end: (L) the eccentricwheel inches diameter of cast iron confined on the shaft of the crank(f) before the pinion (b) with a groove in the edge for the yoke to runin: (M) the yoke, wrought iron, whole length 12 inches;v the lower endis confined to a cross lever (N) which moves the iron ratch (O),thelever passes through one of the posts (B) at (Z) and is confined witha movable joint bet-Ween two pieces of cast iron (g) screwed on theinside of the posts: (O) the ratch iron confined on the outer end of thelever with a small spring (t) to confine it to the face ratch wheel: (P)a double ratch wheel 8 inches diameter of cast iron with face and edgeratches (g) the ratch iron (O) works on the face ratch and the click((1) on the edge ratches; this wheel is confined to the gudgeon of thefront bottom roller (t), which is a wooden roller 4 inches diameter13s;A inches long. There is another roller (u) immediately above the onedescribed of the same diameter and length of cast iron and fluted; thestraw passes between those rollers (t and u) the upper one is movable upor down in proportion of the body of straw that is between them; theupper roller receives its motion by the two cogwheels (R B). on theopposite side of the ratchwheel; two springs (s s) one confined on eachside of the box (U) and presses on the gudgeon of the upper roller (u)at (T, T,) the hind leg 3 by 2-1- inches and 2 feet 4 inches long framedin' arms confined on the back end of the crank shaft (CZ) The bearingsare all held down by cast boxes and screws.

F ig. 3 showing fro-m below the cutter, the movements of the movableblock (K K) which may be moved with the shaft (I) by the sliding box vin or out, to adjust the knife before the box as required, and isfastened by the screws (y y) to the frame: There is also a slit piece(fw) of iron on both sides of the frame, attached to the roller (V) onits gudgeons, which move on pins (e e) and are kept stationary', by thescrews (/L, In) for the purpose to draw the revolving leather or cloth(s) tight.

The advantages of my straw cutter depend more upon the arrangement ofparts than any novel invention in those parts.

In most straw cutters, the fly wheel and apparatus for producing thefeed motion are on the side of the machine, so as to be out of the wayof the feeding, and delivery of the straw. T his requires much room, andmakes the machine too heavy on one side. n other straw cutters, whereknives are attached to the fly Wheel, there is this same objection.

ln all instances where the vibrating knife,

' similar to mine, working without a gate, has

been used. I believe the knife has either been worked directly, by hand,or a crank, and fly wheel have been used in front of the machine, and atone corner, thus making itunequally heavy, and interfering with thedelivery of the straw, or the crank and fly wheel have bee'n directly infront, and some distance from the knife, thus Imaking the' knifediflicult to get at, and requiring additional posts to support thoseparts, or the crank and fly wheel have been placed behind the knife, andbelow the feed box, requiring a very high feeding trough, and attendedwith the disadvantages of requiring a treadle, or the stooping of theperson, working;l the machine, and the pitmanattached to the knife,being in the way of the delivery of the straw.

l am not aware that the fly wheel and parts for operating the knife andfeed rollers have ever been placed, as in my machine, above it andbehind the knife in the manner specially set forth.

This arrangement gives me a steady machine, few operating parts, makesthe crank easy to handle, from its position, removes all obstructionsfrom the mouth of the box, while it brings the feeding box low down, andmakes it easy to be supplied.

I therefore claim- Atrranging the fly wheel and the line of its shaft,and the parts for operating the feed rollers, with respect to the knifeand feeding box, in the manner which I have above set forth.

L. A. HARPER. Witnesses z PETER voN SCHMIDT, LUND VASHINGTON, Sr.

